Donald Hanlon

Donald F. Hanlon passed away peacefully at the age of 72 on January 8, 2026. Donald was born and raised in Chelsea and graduated from Chelsea High School. Donald was the cherished son of John J. Hanlon, Sr. and the late Jacqueline J. Hanlon. He is survived by his daughter Christine Perkins, brother John J. Hanlon, Jr. and sister Sharon Marth. Donald was predeceased by his brothers Daniel, Michael & Paul.

A brain aneurysm at age 40 changed his life dramatically, resulting in decades of long-term care in a skilled nursing facility. Prior to his illness, he was passionate about his work in accounting and took pride in his profession. He was also highly skilled with his hands enjoying leather carving and crafting and had a natural ability to build and fix things – whether putting up a wall or skylight, building bifold closed doors from scratch, painting or hanging wallpaper, all tasks with his hands seemed effortless to him. He found simple pleasures, including card games, darts, reading the Globe, watching movies (his favorite being Star Wars) and following Boston sports, particularly the Bruins and Celtics. He loved his siblings and valued time spent with lifelong friends whose presence remained meaningful throughout his life. He also enjoyed teaching his daughter Christine how to ice skate.

His life was shaped by unexpected hardship and he faced those years with the quiet endurance of someone living with extreme limitations. His life serves as a reminder of how suddenly and profoundly circumstances can change.

Graveside service and burial will take place at the St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Nashua NH.

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